Label applying machine



Aug. 26, 1941. I s. w. you HOFE LABEL APPLYING'MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1940 mv OR;

A/ or: I

GZE'GAGE Va BY 2 ATT /P [X W X z 2 /WM M 5 5 q. M w r L 4 W x m w a M X Y J Patented Aug. 26, 1941v George W. you note, Bound Brook, N. 1., aasignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. 1., a corporation 'of New Jersey Application December 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,146 1:01am. (01. Ml-'61) The invention relates to label applying machines and more particularly to machines of the type in which successive terminal labels are removed from. a supply stack for application to the articles for which said labels are designed The object of the invention is to provide a novel means for holding supply stacks of labels in position in the machine for removal by associated mechanism in an operative cycle oi said machine.

The-invention contemplates primarily the provi-,

sion of a novel label hopper-and a novel mounting arrangement therefor whereby replenishment of supply stacks of labels in the machine is facilitated to a maximum degree. Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illus trates an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a labeling machine with the novel label holding means embodied therein; Fig. 2

is a perspective view of the label holding means.

itself; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the label holding means with parts of the labeling machine in section, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the method of suspending the label holding means.

The label applying machine per se may be of any conventional type and constructionand generally includes a frame Ill on which the elements of the machine including the operating instrumentalities thereof are mounted in the customary manner. The latter may be of any wellknown typeand arrangement and include all the elements commonly embodied in label applying machines or specific to any special form thereof. Such instrumentalities, as shown in Fig. -1, may include label transporting and applying means comprising a suction head Ill whereby successive terminal labels l2 are removed from the supply stack and conveyed thereby to the label applying station of the ma-' chine for application to the articles thereat. In,

transporting the labels, the latter may be passed in adhesive receiving relation to adhesive applying means III of customary type whereby said labels are provided with a coating of adhesive on one surface in the conventional manner.

In many existing types of such label apply ing machines the supply stacks of labels l2 are contained in hoppers so located as to properly cooperate with the label transporting and ap- I plying means such as for instance the suction head II and its associated elements. Because of the arrangement and location of such hoppers which generally are fixed in place in the machine, the operation of replenishing the labels therein involves difficulties and requires the labeling machine to be shut down while replenishment takes place. With the novel arrangement described hereinafter these disadvantages and difflculties are avoided and replenishing of labels may be accomplished in a minium of time and with-a minimum of eifort and without requiring the operation of the machine to be dis- I3 whereby the label-hopper is suspended in op-' continued.

As illustratedsin the drawing the novel label holding means comprises a supporting or suspending member shownin thegrform, oi .Ia plate erative position in the machine. 7 The means for removably mounting said plate II, in the machine may be of any suitable type. For instance the plate Il may be provided-with'trunnions I4 located contiguous to the upper edge of said plate I: and projecting inopposite directions therefrom. The trunnions it are arranged to fit into the bearing recesses ii of bearing blocks I 6 located at the proper points in the machine and fixed on the frame. I thereof in any cona 13 as illustratedfir'i Fig. 2; thepurposeof this arrangement will; be more fullyapointed out herevenient manner. Preferably the trunnions H are located in ofl-set relation rearwardly of the plate I! for instance by means of blocks l1 suitably secured-uponv the rear i'ace'ofsaid plate inafter.

he supporting member or plate It carries a la 1 hopper arranged to contain the supply stack of labels I 2, said hopper preferably being adjustable on said plate for accommodating la.-

bels of various dimensions. In its illustrated form the hopper comprises side members It provided with longitudinal base flanges ll projecting outwardly from said side members It in surface engagement withthe supporting plate I! as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The side members It also include supporting flanges 20' which project toward each other from the lower ends of the-side members 18' for supportingthe supply stack of labels I! from below. In addition longitudinal flanges 2| extend along said side members from the supporting flanges 20 and proect toward each other to maintain said supply stack of labels I! in the hopper.

To fastemthe hopperin place on the plate l3 in a manner to enable the side. members It and the associated flanges 20 and 2| to be adjusted toward and away from each other, the base memhere I9 are provided with slots 22 arranged to register with apertures 23 formed in the plate I3 and preferably screwthreaded for the threaded accommodation of screws 24 passing through the slots 22 and whereby the side members I8 and the associated flanges 23 and 2I are fixed in place in parallel relationto each other on the plate I3. To further increase the range of adjustment of the hopper and to enable its position on the plate I3 to be varied if desired, the apertures 23 are arranged in associated groups at predetermined spaced points of said plate I3 as illustrated in Fig, 2. .With this arrangement the side members I3 may not only be spaced apart to a maximum extent, but in a given spacing relation may be located at different points of said plate I3 if for any reason this should be desirable. Generally speaking the hopper consisting of the side members I3 and their associated flanges is located at the median point of said plate I3 as shown in Fig. 2. In the preferred arrangement the parts are dimensioned so that the supporting flanges 20 and the lower edges of the side members I3 are substantially flush with the lower edge of the supporting plate I3, and so that the upper edges of the side members I3 and their associated flanges are approximately flush with the upper edge of said plate I3.

Because of the rearwardly ofl-set relation of the trunnions I4, the plate I3 when suspended in the bearing recesses I and the hopper carried thereby normally tend to assume an inclined suspended position, the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter. In' the operation of the labeling machine the supply stack of labels I2 is however required to occupy a position in proper operative relation to the label transporting and applying means as exemplified by the suction head II and to the mechanism whereby the supply stack of labels I2 is periodically raised, as exemplified by the elevator member 25 carried by the rack 23, and operating pinion 21 which meshes with said rack 26. Means is accordingly provided which co-operates with the supporting plate I3 to maintain the latter and the label hopper carried thereby in the proper and predetermined suspended position.

The means referred to is shown in Fig. 1 in the form or a stop screw 23 mounted in screwthreaded connection with a suitable bracket 23 to constitute an adjustable stop, said bracket 23 being fixed in the frame I3 in any convenient way. A look nut 33 may serve to secure said stop screw 23 in an adjusted position against unintentional displacement. I

With certain types of labels I3, as for instance labels pre-coated with thermo-plastic adhesives,

' it is the practice to heat such labels to soften the adhesive coatings thereof for adhesively attaching such labels to articles, the heating being effected for instance by means of a heated suction head II. Under such conditions it is desirable to separate the terminal labels I3 at the top or the supply stack in order to prevent the heat from the suction head II or its equivalent from passing down into the supply stack and causing the labels therein to adhere together and thereby interfere with the removal of individual successive terminal labels I3 from said stack during an operative cycle of the machine.

For this purpose an air chamber 3| may be suitably mounted on the bracket 23 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and may be connected for instanceby means of a hose or the like 32 with any convenient and suitable source or air under pressure. The air chamber 3I is provided with an air vent 33 and preferably is of rectangular cross-section with said air vent 33 located in its upright front wall as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In such arrangement the supporting plate I3 when suspended in the machine is located in co-oper- ,ative surface relation with the upright front wall of the air chamber 3I and is provided with air inlets 34 in communicating registry with the air vent 33 of said air chamber 3I as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The air inlets 34 lead to the interior oi! the label hopper formed by the side members I3 and associated flanges, and preferably are located at different levels contiguous to the upper end of the supply stack of label I2 as shown in Fig. 1.

In practice the labels I2 in the form of a supply stack are introduced into the hopper while the latter with the plate I3 is outside of the machine and separated and disconnected therefrom. At this stage the supply stack of labels I2 is supported from below by the supporting flanges 20 or in other words rests upon said flanges 20 in contact with the plate I3 and is contained between the side members I3, the longitudinal flanges 2| serving to maintain said stack or labels in the hopper. When the supply stack of labels I2 has been introduced into the hopper, the unit consisting of the plate I3, side members I3 and associated elements is inserted into the machine and suspended therein by placing the trunnions I4 in the bearing recesses II of the bearing blocks I3. Because of the rearward ofi-set location of said trunnions I4, the plate I3 automatically swings into engagement with the stop screw 23 and into co-operative surface relation with the air chamber 3i i! the latter is embodied in the machine. In such case the mere suspension of the aforesaid unit in the machine will also automatically bring the air inlets 34 into communicating registry with the air vent 33 of the air chamber 3I and thereby bring the interior of the label hopper into communication with the interior oi! the air chamber 3| and with the source or air under pressure with which it is connected. With this arrangement jets otair will pass through the air inlets 34 into the hopper during an operative period of the machine and will form air cushions therein whereby the terminal labels I2 at the upper end of the supply stack are floated in separated relation as illustrated in Fig. 1.

. It will be understood that prior to the introduction and suspension of the plate I3 and its hopper with the supply stack of labels I2 therein, the elevator member 25 has been adjusted to a lowered position as shown in Fig. 1 in which it does not interfere with such introduction and suspension of said plate I3 and its hopper. Subsequent to such introduction and suspension the elevator member 25 is raised into the space between the supporting flanges 20 or into the lower open end of the hopper and into contact with the lower end of the supply stack of labels I2 therein.

As the operation of the machine proceeds successive terminal labels I2 will be removed from the upper end of the supply stack in the hopper and will be transported to the label applying station of the machine for application to articles properly supported thereat in label receiving position. Periodically the elevator member "will alent mechanism to correspondinglyraise the supply stack of labels I! in the hopper and thereby maintain the u per end of said stack in proper co-operative relation to the suction head II or its equivalent.

When the labels I! in a given supply stack have been exhausted the elevator member I! is returned to its lower position below the lower end of the hopper and the plate ll with the side members I8 and associated elements comprising the hopper therein is simply lifted out of or removed from the machine and its hopper is replenished with a new supply stack of labels I2 and together with its supporting plate I! is returned to the machine in proper suspended psition'therein. In order to conserve time another hopper previously filled with a supply stack of labels l2 and mounted on its own plate ll may be substituted-mthe machine for an empty hopper and its associated plate It if desired. In either case adequate supply may be maintained in the machine at all times and interruptions in the operation of said machine because of the absence of labels or replenishment thereof are entirely avoided.

By loosening the screws 24, the side members It may be adjusted toward andaway from each other within the limits of. the slots 22 to accommodate labels of varying dimensions. For increasing the range of adjustment the screws 24 may be removed to permit the slots I! in be set in registry with other groups of apertures 23 after which the screws 24 may be replaced as will be obvious. In addition the side members l8 in given relation to each other and in co-operation with predetermined groups of apertures 23 may be set in different positions on the plate l3 to vary the position of the hopper there- ,on if this should be desirable.

As illustrated in the drawing the hopper and its supporting plate and associated elements from a unit which is easily accessible in the machine and is readily handled for suspension therein and removal from said machine at will. eration of suspending, removal and replacing of said unit may accordingly be accomplished in a minimum of time with little effort and without stacks of labels 1! The op- I whereby said side members are adjustable relatively to each other within the limits of said slots and whereby the location of said side members on said supporting plate may be selecrequiring any complicated adjustment and setting or any particular skill on the part of the attendant. 4

.Various changes in he specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A label holding means for label applying machines, comprising a supporting plate provided with associated groups of apertures at .predetermined spaced points, trunnions whereby said plate is removably suspended in said ma-' chine, side members located in spaced surface parallelism to constitutes. hopper for containing a supply stack of labels, supporting flanges pro-' jecting toward each other from said side members for supporting said supply stack of labels from below, longitudinal flanges extending lengthwise of said side members and projecting toward each other therefrom to maintain said supply stack projecting outwardly from said side members in surface engagement with said plate andprovided with slots arranged to register with the apertures of each of said tending through said slots into threaded engagement with the apertures of a given group of labels in said hopper, base flanges groups, and fastening screws extively varied. V

' 2. A label holding means for label applying machines, comprising a supporting plate provided with associated groups of apertures at predetermined spaced pointe trunnions whereby said plate is removably suspended in said machine, side members located in spaced surface parallelism to constitute a hopper for containing a supply stack of labels, means associated with said side members for supporting said supply stack'of labels and for maintaining the latter in said hopper, base flanges extending lengthwise of' said side members in surface engagement with said plate, and means co-operating with said groups of apertures for adjustably mounting said side members relatively to each .other and for with associated groups of apertures at predetermined spaced points, trunnions whereby said plate is removably suspended in said machine, side members located in spaced surface parallelism to constitute a hopper for containing a supply stack of labels, means associated with said side members for supporting said supply stack of labels and for. maintaining the latter in said hopper, and means cooperating with said apertures for adjustably mounting said side members relatively to each other and for selectively varying the location thereof on said supporting plate.

4. A label holding means for label applying machines comprising a supporting member, means for removably suspending said member in said machine, a label hopper located on said supporting member for containing a supply stack of labels, and means whereby said hopper may be adjusted to accommodate labels of varying dimensions and whereby the location of said hopper V on said supporting member may be varied.

5. A label holding means for label applying machines comprising a supporting member, means for removably'mounting said member in said machine, a label hopper carried by said supporting member tor containing a supply stack of labels, and means whereby said hopper may be adjusted to accommodate labels of varying dimensions.

6. A label holding means for label applying machines comprisingv a supporting member,-

v. means for removably mounting said member in said machine, a label hopper carried by said sup-' porting member for containing a supply stack of labels, and means whereby the location of said hopper on said supporting member may be varied.

7. -A label holding means for label applying machines comprising an upright label hopper for containing a supply stack of labels, said hopper being adjustable to accommodate labels of varying dimensions, and co-operating devices mounted on said machine and hopper respectively and detachably engaged with each other for removably suspending said hopper in said machine.

8. In a label applying machine, the combination at bearing blocks provided with bearing recesses, a supporting plate, trunnions on said plate mounted in said bearing recesses for removably suspending said plate in said machine, a label hopper adjustably fixed upon said plate and suspended therewith in said machine, a bracket fixed on the frame said machine, and an ad- Justable stop on said bracket oo-operating with said supporting plate to maintain the suspended position of said hopper.

9. In a label applying machine, the combination of a bracket fixed on the frame of the machine, an air chamber on said bracket connected with a source of air under pressure and provided with an air vent, bearing blocks having bearing recesses, a supporting plate having air inlets, trunnions on said supporting plate mounted in said bearing recesses for removably suspending said plate in said machine in contact with said air chamber and with the air inlets of said plate in communicating registry with the air vent of said chamber, and a label hopper fixed on said plate in open communication with said air inlets.

10. In a label applying machine, the combinationoi an air chamber having an upright wall provided with an air vent, a label hopper provided with air inlets, and means whereby said hopper is pivotally suspended in associated relation with said air chamber so as to normallyaasaoas swing into surface engagement with said upright wall thereof whereby the air inlets of said hopper are automatically adjusted into communicating registry with the air vent of said air chamber.

11. In a machine for applying labels, the combination of suspending bearings fixed in said machine, a hopper for a supply stack of labels, and suspending means on said hopper co-oper- .ating with said suspending bearings in detachable engagement therewith for removably suspending said hopper in said machine in depend ing relation to said bearings.

12. In a machine for applying labels, the combination of suspending bearings fixed in said machine, ahopper for a supply stack of, labels, suspending means on said hopper co-operating with said suspending bearings in detachable engagenient therewith for removably suspending said hopper in said machine in depending relation to said bearings, and means in said machine co-operating with said suspending means to maintain the hopper in a predetermined depending position.

GEORGE W. van HOFE. 

